Cate Blanchett on “terrifying, documentary-esque quality” to surreal G7 drama Rumours

As a seasoned film critic who has witnessed the cinematic evolution from black and white to 3D and beyond, I must say that Guy Maddin’s latest masterpiece, Rumours, is a refreshing departure from the conventional narrative. It’s like watching a dream where Salvador Dali meets Luis Buñuel, served with a dash of Monty Python’s absurd humor.

The movie titled “Rumours,” created by the Canadian director Guy Maddin along with his frequent partners Evan and Galen Johnson, does not primarily aim to portray an extremely realistic representation of reality.

The movie delves into the circumstances following a disaster during a G7 meeting, which strands an assortment of peculiar global leaders in survival mode. It also features unusual scenes like a group of resurrected “bog people”, a mysteriously giant human brain, and Charles Dance portraying an American President with a posh British accent.

She remarks that the directors seem to present their work without attempting to clarify or make it coherent for the viewers.

However, it’s quite humorous, and I believe the world seems increasingly bizarre now compared to when we created it. There’s an unsettling, docudrama-like aspect to it that I hadn’t anticipated.

Nikki Amuka-Bird portrays the UK Prime Minister character, Cardosa Dewindt, in the movie. After observing the audience’s responses to the film, she finds herself in agreement with her fellow actors’ assessments.

She remarks, “Some folks find it unsettlingly similar to real life,” she notes, expressing both concern and astonishment!

In the movie, none of the portrayed heads of state – such as presidents, prime ministers, or chancellors – are exact representations of real-world leaders. However, both Blanchett and Amuka-Bird delved into genuine B-roll recordings from G7 conferences to enhance their understanding and depiction of their characters’ interplay.

Despite their characters typically being portrayed as puzzled, awkward, or unintelligent on screen, delving into these roles through the research process granted the actors a deeper comprehension and appreciation for them than they may have initially anticipated.

Blanchett finds it eye-opening to watch the footage, commenting on the uncomfortable situations these people were in, which felt more like staged photo opportunities than genuine moments. She was intrigued by how disconnected they appeared from their physical selves, finding this aspect both fascinating and moving. As a result, she developed a strong sense of empathy for them.

Amuka-Bird also notes, “We expect them to meet certain standards,” she says. “They should be organized, married with strong moral values, skilled cooks, or whatever else we need. You can sense the awkwardness, which is a good foundation. They are the ones who understand what it takes to lead a nation, and that can be isolating. So they share that experience.

Over time, as they traveled together, friendships that were peculiar yet genuine developed among them – friendships some might call bromances. There were romantic entanglements and a variety of unanticipated relationships. However, I believe we kept it realistic. It’s a common trope, but essentially, we didn’t feel the need to dictate their feelings; people are capable of forming their own opinions without being told what to think.

As I find myself deeply engrossed in this movie, it’s becoming more and more surreal, and I can feel myself drifting away from the familiar world outside. It’s like I’m wandering through a dense forest, trying to piece together the puzzling events just as the bewildered politicians do on screen.

Instead of searching for straightforward, simple explanations that cover every aspect – like trying to decipher the purpose of that massive brain, for instance – Blanchett suggests we should instead accept the mysterious and immerse ourselves in the chaos.

She mentions that she bonded with Guy over their shared appreciation for Buñuel, and one of the movies they both enjoy the most is “The Exterminating Angel,” a classic work from the renowned Spanish surrealist made in 1962.

He remarked, “Interestingly enough, that serves as a fascinating analogy for this movie. You see, just like a dream, it may seem logical at the moment, but upon closer examination, it can arise from conflicting and contradictory elements.

In my opinion, similar to many remarkable creations, is when artists manage to simultaneously explore contrasting, sometimes contradictory ideas, leaving interpretation up to the audience. This was the approach I took, as I chose not to force a logical explanation.

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2024-12-06 18:06